Girls/Boys - which is the one for your family?

I have been thinking today about our children. After my husband and I were first married I had this dream that we would have all boys - he has all brothers as do I. I guess that was alright but I wanted a daughter. Oh well, I thought. After we got pregnant with our first child and we didn't have the opportunity to learn early before they were born what sex this child would be. That was o.k. because we would love him/her anyway. Well she arrived and there was our daughter. Yea, I got my daughter!

Three years later I was expecting our second child and my husband decided that he needed to be more pro-active. So I was told to think boy, Glen my husband named him in my tummy "Butch" when he talked to him etc. (Back then when we had our babies the fathers stayed in the waiting room to hear what and how things went in delivery.) When the doctor delivered our second child and he told me she was a "she" I started to cry. Boy was he upset with me, why this baby is beautiful, healthy, has all her fingers and toes and it perfect in every way. Well they gave me the phone so I could talk to Glen and tell him our news. When I told him it was a girl, again I started to cry. Now I must admit I wasn't all that upset except my husband wanted a son so badly. My heart was broken for him, he had tried so hard to convince everyone it was a boy. But of course when he saw his daughter, he was just as happy as he had been with the first one. She was beautiful, she had all her fingers and toes, she was healthy, what more could we ask?

Another three years went by and sure enough I found myself pregnant again. My husband being the wise and careful husband he was, didn't say a word about this being a boy. So when our daughter # 3 was born he was very happy as was I. We were specializing in girls and I was thrilled. I think by now Glen realized how much fun girls are especially with their Daddy's. I mean the sun rose and set around Glen and that was o.k. with him.

Well after two years we found ourselves pregnant again and this baby was also a girl. She especially made all of the pain seem so trivial when they took me to ICU after she was born. I had to wait there for the pediatrician. I wasn't too concerned because I was so drugged I don't think I realized what was happening. Well our regular doctor wasn't able to come so his associate came. He started to explain how her naval had a hernia but that could be fixed and it was not as bad as it really looked ( it really was ugly and when people saw it they freaked out, now that concerned me because I didn't want anyone freaking out when they saw our beautiful daughter so after one year we found a surgeon that put it all back in and made her the most beautiful "belly button" and we have told her she is so lucky to have that special button - no one else in the world has one like hers. But I digress, also the pediatrician told us that one of her feet had gotten caught and wasn't able to move around so it was turned one way and would need some special care down the road. All along he talked so encouragingly assuring us that everything could be fixed. Even in my drugged state, I knew without a doubt that these little things could be taken care and she would be great.

This time we waited five years, in fact we thought we were through having children. But the Lord had another one waiting in the wings to come down. Glen kept saying he felt there was one more up there waiting for us. To our surprise this little girl caboose came along. I was terrified to have another baby because with the last one I had such a difficult time delivering her but I was given a blessing that I would be able to endure and bring into this world a lovely child. Of course, I had a blessing before delivering each daughter and I know the Lord blessed us beyond our hopes and dreams. Thank you. Daughter #5 out did her sisters in the length of time it took to deliver her - since she's been here I've come to the realization that she is like her Dad and didn't want to make a decision about coming then or later??????

Today was our #4 Daughter's birthday. She is all grown up now with her own family - She's married to a great guy and they have one girl and two boys. Happy Birthday Steph!!

I think back to when we got married and wonder where all of the time has gone. I mean we are the parents of five daughters, 10 grandchildren, six boys and four girls. Our little posterity is a joy to us and we give thanks to our Heavenly Father for all of the blessings he has given to us. We don't get to see all of our children all of the time but we're lucky enough to be able to at least talk to them on the phone and sometimes Skype. As we look at each of the husbands the girls have chosen, my thoughts have been - wow how did we luck out to find four such great men to join our family. They are all as different as night and day but also alike in may ways. I give thanks for them also.

So back to my title - which is best for your family? For our family it is definitely girls, each one of them are so different and even look different. You might say well you got slighted by not having sons, oh don't think that, we have four wonderful sons that are married to our daughters and six wonderful grandsons also. And thankfully we didn't get slighted in the granddaughter department either. They are all as great as their syblings/cousins. Thank you Lord for giving to Glen and I the best children we could have asked for. They are all just perfect for us and our family. We love them more than life.

Memories, Sorrow, Love, Togetherness

It's 9-11 again and as usual I remember exactly where I was and how I felt. I would never have imagined I could feel such pain for people I had never met or places I had never been. But my heartache was palatable, I felt like I could taste the smoke, the despair, the pain (at least a tiny bit of it). I was working for Senator Bennett at the time and when I got to work I was told they were closing the office. I left work and walk around the park and all over Ogden, not really thinking about where I was. I think I was in a state of shock ( at least a small one). I don't mean to demean the things the people who really experience those heinousness things. But my hurt was real and I couldn't imagine why someone could do this to others they did not know (and themselves for that fact) just to prove a point.

I know I have led a very sheltered life but to inflict this type of horror and pain on others intentionally was unthinkable to me then and it is now. I have no concept of that kind of hate. Thank Goodness!

To those who endured such horror, pain and lingering problems I bow to you and say my heart still aches for you and yours, to those who died on that terrible day my tears are ones of relief that it is over for you and you do not have to endure that again. What so many of you did trying to save one another, and others, I am so in awe of you and you shall always be my heros.

And today to those who spend their time putting up flags to honor all of you I give my thanks. I shall take this day to remember, cry for the pain and the memories, and rejoice for the coming together we saw our nation do after this. We need to remember how important our country is to us and what we have here, and be proud to be an American. I know I am.

Gratefullness

My daughter posted recently about the things that she is grateful for and it started me to thinking how very fortunate I am. So here goes: I'm grateful for my wonderful hubby who puts up with me and loves me besides. I'm grateful for modern medicine and the advancements they have made. I'm grateful for my five wonderful daughters and their husbands. Each is so different and yet they have so much in common. I'm grateful for our 10 grandchildren. What a joy they are to me and they bring such happiness to watch them grow up. I'm grateful that my Mom is still alive. There have been times when I haven't always felt this way as the burden has been heavy but I do love her and as I grow older I realize how much she has done and continues to do for me. I'm grateful for friends old and new. How precious life is. I'm grateful for the changes in the weather and the beauty here where we live. I'm grateful for green beans, corn on the cob (in season) for squash, tomatoes, raspberries, and being able to pick most of these from our garden or pick them up from farmers here in our area. I'm grateful there are still farmers out there that work so hard to bring to us these yummy things. Oh and yes, I'm grateful for "hand and foot". It works my brain and I love it!

Life

Today a dear friend found life to be to difficult to deal with any longer and my heart is breaking for the hurt and pain she is enduring. My dear friend you are in my prayers that your heart and soul can find peace and endure the heart ache that seems to follow you everywhere. Life is never easy but for some out there life is in deed very unfair. Each of us find our lives difficult at times but to others that have lived in the darkest of places these times become so dark that life doesn't seem to be worth it.

Please stop and think about all of the love that is directed your way today and always. First, your Heavenly Father loves you more than anything and He knows the pain you are enduring so let Him help you, He can take it and lift it off your shoulders. Second, there are so many of us that love you for your sweetness, kindness and willingness to do for others. You have given so much and it is time you allow others to give back to you. While we cannot take your pain away we are very willing to stop and listen to you share your heartache. Those that inflected that pain onto you will never be away from the part they played and will have to face the Lord Himself.

Remember, you are innocent and deserve so much, you are worth so much! You have so much to still do and give to others. For one thing, the knowledge of what you have endured and the strength you have gained (and you have gained much strength or you wouldn't have made it this far) would help others to face things. I only wish I could be of help to you now in one of your darkest moments. I hope you can feel my arms around you giving to you the love that you need at this time.

Talk to the Lord and He will help you to overcome this ugliness and find the peace you so richly deserve. All my love my friend.

Listening

Throughout the years I have tried to "listen" to the promptings I received from our Heavenly Father but this last one was real. Just before Sue and Hanae left for Arizona I had this feeling Glen should go with her and help her drive but I ignored it. After she left, Glen and I were talking and he said he had the same thought come to him. Well we talked about a minute or so and decided since we'd both gotten the same message he should go. Sue and Hanae were staying with Nan in St. George so we got Glen a ticket to fly down there and meet Sue and drive the rest of the way home with her.

Neither of us knew why we'd gotten that message but we listened - thank goodness!!! They left Thursday morning early and stopped at Mc Donalds for breakfast. Then they headed on their way to Sierra Vista. Lunch time came around and they were again around a Mc Donalds - that is Hanae's favorite place to eat. They stopped and got lunch. Well about an hour later Sue had these unbelievable pains. They were not sure what was wrong finally she felt the need for a rest room and they had to drive 15 miles or so give or take some miles to find one. After a while they got back into the car and again headed to Sierra Vista. Sue was in such pain she could hardly stand the movement in the care let alone any bumps. They finally got her home and she rested and started to feel a bit better later that evening. By the next day she was doing much better. We came to the conclusion because she had been watching her diet and had not had that much grease in the same day that it had hit her really hard. She got back onto watching what she ate and is doing much better.

Thank you Lord for giving us the push to do the right thing for her, I'm not sure what she would have done without help. Hanae sure couldn't be of help to her and Sue would have been out in the middle of no where with no help in sight.

You know there are times in our life when we receive these great promptings and if we listen sometimes we are not sure why they have come but others we see up close and personal why. I am so grateful to a loving Father who saw fit to warn us to take action before we knew why and that we listened.

Visits

What a wonderful time it is - summer when family comes to visit. But it is very sad when they leave. I love having our "children" and their families come to visit but when it's time for them to leave and I know we won't see them for a long time - it is very difficult. How I wish they could all live a bit closer - say Logan (we already have one there why not several) or Clinton or Salt Lake. I know you get the drift. I do understand they have their own lives and have to follow their dreams and destiny but that doesn't make it any easier.

We spend years raising these children and then they grow up and think they can just leave us and go their ways, which of course they do.

As we are getting older I find it more difficult to have them so far away. Pretty soon we won't be able to travel like we've been blessed to do and I wonder if we'll ever see them again. I know that is pretty dramatic. But today it feels that way. Sue, Hanae and Nik were here to visit and first we lost Nik to go home so he could go to scout camp (I can understand why he'd want to do that) and now Sue and Hanae have left. For some reason they feel like they have to go home to see "Daddy". Now if we could only get him to come then all would be good.

Thank goodness we have two "children" that have chosen to be close to home - at least for now. I am so grateful they are close enough to be able to see them for special times and to just enjoy them anytime.

Sometimes I wonder if we have either made our children way to independent or if we've made them so glad to just get away from us. Well, which ever it is they are where they are and that is it.

I do love our family so much and give thanks each day for the blessings they bring into our lives.

Anniversary

I finally have to take the plunge and blog without pictures. I keep saying I'm going to download the pictures from my camera, as you can see, haven't quite got that done yet. The reason, I need help from Glen and we never seem to get it together at the same time. Oh well.

But back to topic, I can't believe it's been 46 years since we went to the Salt Lake City LDS temple to be married. I look at all of my girls and can't believe they are MY daughters - why I can't be that old to have five daughters and 10 grandchildren - where did the time go?? Help!! But at the same time I look at our family and give thanks for the many blessings they have brought into my/our lives. Yes, we have had difficult times and even sad times but at the same time we have had glorious times. As I have watched our children grow I have grown and so enjoyed at what they have accomplished with their lives. I am so proud (can I say that?) of all of them. They have taken in the good, the bad and the ugly to make their lives become something special, I am so glad I have been here to see.

Yes, they have problems - who doesn't - but they have taken all of the things around them and made them work. I'm not saying it has been easy for them but they have stayed firm and come out winners. I look at our four sons that we have gotten in the bargain and I'm so grateful for each one of them. They are so unique and individual and special. I love them as though I had given birth to them and just think I didn't have to - I got a bargain! I thank the Lord each day for all of our children and grandchildren. And I thank the Lord for my life and the things we have been through - some not so great but they made us who we are today. The problems have made my patience grow, my love grow more than I could have known and the love between Glen and I has grown and I thought I knew what love was when we got married - silly girl I was.

Thank you for the 46 years my dear husband. How grateful I am for you and your patience and love. I truly know what a helpmate is now - thank you for teaching me so much - I look forward to the next many years. Love you my dearest!